Birch Mill Pond Dam

About Birch Mill Pond Dam

The primary purpose of Birch Mill Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by D'amico;macmillan;southwinds Assoc Inc. (private). It impounds the Tiffany Brook near Essex.

The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 07/26/2024.

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